Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has intensified its anti-smuggling operations, intercepting prohibited goods worth over N1.35 billion in a move aimed at protecting local industries and sanitising Nigeria’s markets.
The Acting Customs Area Controller, Ogun 1 Area Command, Oladapo Afeni, said the enforcement drive is strategically targeted at eliminating unfair competition and strengthening the domestic economy.
“In our continuous efforts at stamping out unhealthy competition with our dedicated local producers of vegetable oil in Nigeria, officers of the command on precise intelligence patrol around Agbara axis on 11 March 2026 successfully intercepted a truck conveying 2,539 kegs of vegetable oil at 25 litres each,” Afeni stated.
He disclosed that the interception followed an earlier operation on March 4, 2026, where officers seized a Sino truck loaded with 4,325 cartons of foreign spaghetti, each weighing 10 kilograms, underscoring what he described as a sustained influx of smuggled essential commodities into the Nigerian market.
“By removing these illicit goods from the market, we are ensuring a competitive trade environment that protects our local vegetable oil industry and safeguards the health of our citizens,” he added.
Beyond food items, the Command recorded multiple high-value seizures, including 204 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 2,547 parcels of cannabis sativa, and 545 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit (13,625 litres).
Other items intercepted include 36 cartons of Bardinet syrup, 50 bags of imported sugar, 13 used tyres, second-hand clothing, footwear, handbags, perfume oil, artefacts, and two used vehicles.
In a notable environmental enforcement action, Customs also rescued four live pangolins, which have since been handed over to wildlife conservation authorities.
Afeni emphasized that the cumulative Duty Paid Value of all seized items stands at N1,350,751,000, reflecting the scale and impact of ongoing enforcement operations.
In line with inter-agency collaboration, the seized cannabis and artefacts were transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, reinforcing coordinated efforts to combat illicit trade and narcotics trafficking.
Receiving the items, Ganiyu Adeyoye, Deputy Commander of Narcotics, NDLEA Idiroko Special Area Command, commended Customs for its sustained support and operational synergy.
The crackdown highlights the Nigeria Customs Service’s growing focus on curbing smuggling, protecting local production, and ensuring a fair and regulated trade environment, particularly in critical sectors such as food and consumer goods.
